"Did I stutter?"
Elle smothered a laugh at that, lifting her phone and saying, "Oh, this is too good."
I didn't know if she was recording or taking a picture. But I had to admit, watching Hazel ignore the obvious attempts of this playboy, Tolliver's brother or not, was entertaining.
Undeterred, Hudson tilted his head. "Need a ride? There's room in the back. I'll sit with you, so you won't be lonely."
She scoffed.
"Or you could always sit in my lap."
Finally, Hazel lifted her eyes and faced him head on. "That is never going to happen."
His smooth smile was back. "Why not?"
She cocked a hip as he stepped closer.
"I think we could have a lot of fun."
"I know who you are Hudson Stone."
"And?"
Hazel leaned closer. "Never in a million years," she said sweetly. "But thanks for taking time out of your busy playboy schedule to notice me. I'm honored."
Her brother, Kayden, broke away from the group of guys he'd been talking to and called her name from across the parking lot,then Hazel shook her head and walked away. Hudson watched her until she got to the car. He didn't stop looking even as they pulled out of the parking lot.
"You getting in or walking home?" Tolliver said which seemed to snap him out of it.
"Yeah," Hudson said as he slid into the passenger seat and shut the door. "Did you see Hazel Kowalski?"
"Yep."
"She's looking good this summer, right?"
As he pulled onto the road, Tolliver said, "Give it up, Hudson. Haze is never going to go out with you."
"Never say never," he replied.
Elle laughed. "She's too good for you," she said.
"Thanks, sister. You're the best."
"Thankyoufor that crash and burn. Funniest thing I've seen this week. I got it all on video."
Beside me, Eli chuckled and repeated, "Crash and burn."
"You too, Eli?" Hudson said. "I thought we were on the same team."
"Yeah," Eli said, "but it was funny."
"Damn right it was," Elle said. She and Eli reached across me for a fist-bump then made it explode with a swooshing sound. It was the cutest thing.
"Whatever," Hudson said, turning to face the back. "I wasn't?—"
His eyes lit on me, and he smiled slowly.
"Hey, there."
